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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Updated by Canon SX510 HS
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Introduced January 2014
Photography Glossary

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic SZ8, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Canon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the SZ8 (16MP) is fairly close and both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was introduced 16 months prior to the SZ8 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple summation of how the SX500 IS matches up versus the SZ8 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Panasonic SZ8

 SX500 IS SZ8 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display resolution461k460kClearer display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Canon SX500 IS

 SZ8 SX500 IS 
IntroducedJanuary 2014August 2012More recent by 16 months

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic SZ8

 SX500 IS SZ8 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera often, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX500 IS has got exterior dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ8 has dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic SZ8 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the SX500 IS and the SZ8.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SX500 IS and SZ8 is 80 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements just by researching a spec sheet. The graphic below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX500 IS and SZ8.

As you can see, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same exact megapixels so you can expect comparable quality of photos but you should take the launch date of the cameras into account. The older SX500 IS will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Portrait photography camera
46
manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/1,600 seconds)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
has face detect focus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography advice
Panasonic SZ8 Street photography advice
51
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (159g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Sports photography camera
44
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides tracking focus
low fps (1.0 fps)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery life (195 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
33
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (200 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography details
59
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery life (195 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
67
lighter than competition (159 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (288mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery (200 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography info
46
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery life (195 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
41
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery (200 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging info
Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging info
28
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone port
32
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
lighter than competition (159 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic socket
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic SZ8
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Brand Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-08-21 2014-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focus range 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m 5.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/1600 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341 grams (0.75 lb) 159 grams (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 195 shots 200 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $299 $275